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RC plane pre-flight checklist
By Paul Walsh Last reviewed
Pilots who crash on take-off usually find the cause was something a two-minute check would have caught. Make these checks a habit and you'll avoid most of them.
At home, before you go
- Batteries charged (flight packs and transmitter).
- Plane undamaged from the last flight.
- Spare propellers packed.
- Flyer ID and Operator ID label on the plane if required. See UK rules for RC models.
At the field, before the first flight
- Range check in the transmitter's range-check mode.
- Failsafe: with the motor armed and the plane held securely, switch off the transmitter. The motor must stop.
- Correct model selected on the transmitter.
Before every flight
Airframe
- Wings and tail secure, no cracks.
- Control surfaces firmly hinged: pull gently on each one.
- Control horns and linkages secure.
- Undercarriage straight and tight.
Propeller and motor
- Propeller undamaged (no chips or cracks) and tight.
- Spinner secure.
Battery and balance
- Flight battery fully charged and secure in its tray.
- Centre of gravity correct with the battery in place. See balancing an RC plane.
Controls
- Directions correct. Right stick right: right aileron up. Stick back: elevator up. Rudder stick right: rudder right.
- Full, free movement with no binding.
- Trims centred, or as they were last flight.
- Flight mode set where you want it (beginner mode for learners).
Area
- Flying area clear of people, animals and vehicles.
- Wind direction checked; take off into the wind.
After a crash or repair
Repeat the full check, plus a range check, before the next flight. Look for hidden damage at the motor mount and control horns. Repair techniques are in repairing a crashed RC plane.
BMFA guidance also stresses checking airspace restrictions and setting failsafes so a model can't fly away (BMFA handbook). Choosing a safe flying site is covered in where to fly an RC plane in the UK, and your first flight in how to fly an RC plane. Back to the RC planes hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do I range check my RC plane?
Put the transmitter into its range-check mode, which reduces power, then walk away from the plane while a helper watches the controls. Follow your radio's manual for the distance.
What is a failsafe?
A setting that tells the receiver what to do if it loses the signal. On a plane, it should cut the motor so the plane can't fly away.
Why do control directions need checking every time?
Because a reversed surface is easy to miss after changing models, settings or a repair, and it almost always causes a crash.
Related guides
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Balancing an RC plane
Why the centre of gravity matters more than anything else on an RC plane, how to find and check it, and how to fix a nose- or tail-heavy model.
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How to fly an RC plane
Range check, take-off, trimming, circuits and landing: a practical sequence for your first RC plane flights, and the mistakes that end most of them early.
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Where to fly an RC plane in the UK
Parks, fields, club sites and the permissions you need: where you can legally and sensibly fly an RC plane in the UK, and the places to avoid.